Leaders of major Islamic groups in Nigeria on Wednesday met with President Bola Tinubu and got his approval to negotiate with top Muslim groups in neighbouring Niger Republic where military officers ousted the democratically elected President of Niger Republic, Mohamed Bazoum.
Bazoum is still held in detention by the military high command in Niger.
The clerics (Ulama), who are opposed to war with the Nigerien military, as threatened by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), said that apart from the dire consequences of armed conflict, they are enjoined by their religious faith and the Quran to seek mediation in cases like this.
Sheikh Bala Lau of Izalla group and Sheikh Abdurahman Ahmad of Ansar ud Deen, flanked by leaders of other sects, addressed State House correspondents after their meeting with Tinubu.
According to Shekh Lau: “We thank Allah that He gave us the opportunity to meet with Mr. President and the delegation of Ulama from here in Nigeria met with Mr. President on the issue of Niger Republic. We want to find a lasting solution, we want peace and harmony to reign, not only in Nigeria, but in the sub-Saharan region and in globe as well.
“The Ulama advised Mr. President that we want peace and reconciliation. If anything happens between you and your neighbor, the holy Quran commands you to reconcile, so we want reconciliation.
“That’s why we are here and our able leader and President accepted the offer that he wants us to intervene and to talk to our brothers in Niger Republic, the scholars also there on how we can come together and bring a lasting solution to this problem.
“That is why we are here and Insha Allah, by the grace of Allah, we’re optimistic that Allah will do it for us and we’ll find a lasting solution to this issue.”
Sheikh Ahmad added: “The President, like he said, welcomed our intervention and he has promised that if we could also talk to the people on the other side, for them to be ready to give concession, then ECOWAS that he’s Chairman of will also be ready.
“Other than that, the President deplored coup d’etat in the Sahel region and as a democrat himself, he said he would do everything to ensure that there is democracy, justice, freedom and peace in the subregion.
“We as the Ulama are also committed to peace and justice and the government will be enabling the Ulama to mediate as it is appropriate. This is why we are here and it is a mission accomplished because the President responded positively and in turn he has given us assignment to also mediate to ensure reconciliation between the warring factions in Niger.”
Meanwhile, former Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, who was in Niamey, capital of Niger Republic, earlier in the day and met with the military officers, returned home and headed straight for the State House, Abuja to brief Tinubu.
Emerging from the meeting, Sanusi told reporters that be was well received by the military junta in Niger Republic, and that the meeting was fine.
He said: “I came to brief him on the details of my discussions with leaders of Niger. We’ll continue to do our best to bring the two parties together to improve understanding.
“This is the time for public diplomacy, it’s not a matter that we leave to governments. All Nigerians, all Nigeriens need to be involved to find a solution that works for Africa, a solution that works for Niger that works for Nigeria and a solution that works for humanity.”
Confirming that he took the initiative by himself, he added: “I was not sent by the government. Government officials were are aware I was going, but it was my personal initiative, using my personal contacts to get there and I will continue to do my best. It is my duty as a leader to do that.”
The flurry of meetings at the State House with the President came ahead of a scheduled emergency meeting of heads of ECOWAS counties in Abuja the following day, Thursday.
They followed other pleas and warnings by several prominent Nigerians and groups, including the Senate, which have called for dialogue, instead of armed conflict to resolve the situation in Niger Republic.
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